PAT CAPUTO: MSU fans need not root for Michigan to beat Indiana

When Michigan hosts Indiana Sunday, it would appear to present a no-win situation for Michigan State fans.

It is simply not in the DNA of a Spartan to root for the Wolverines. Yet, unless Michigan beats Indiana at the Crisler Center, MSU has no chance of sharing the Big Ten regular season title.

Adding to this perplexing tug for Spartans is if Michigan does win, one of the four possible teams MSU could possibility share the conference title with would be Michigan for the second straight year (Indiana, which would win the title outright with a victory over Michigan, and Ohio State, are the other squads).

Yet, upon further review, perhaps it is a no-lose situation for the Spartans, assuming, of course, they avoid being upset by lowly Northwestern in their regular season finale Sunday.

This is not meant to disrespect what winning the Big Ten regular season title means, but in the bigger picture, it is perhaps not as important as the ramifications a Michigan victory over the Hoosiers would have on NCAA tournament seeding.

As it stands right now, Indiana is going to get the better seed over MSU from the Big Ten - regardless of what happens Sunday. The Hoosiers beat MSU both meetings. The Wolverines are ranked higher than the Spartans in the latest polls (MSU is 10th and Michigan seventh in the latest Associated Press version). That could change if Michigan is beaten by IU.

You know the NCAA tournament selection committee is going to put one of the Michigan schools at The Palace of Auburn Hills for what is essentially the opening round of the NCAA tournament (I know, I know it's technically the second round because of the play-in games). If Michigan beats Indiana Sunday, shares the conference title, holds its higher ranking after the Big Ten tournament - chances are the Wolverines will get a higher seed than the Spartans in the NCAA tournament.

So the question is, what is more desirable - a four-way share of the Big Ten regular season title or a higher seed in the NCAA tournament and probable home court advantage at The Palace to start a quest toward a Final Four bid?

Can't win?

Can't lose?

It is a fitting end to the best Big Ten basketball regular season in a long time. It presents both the curse and the beauty of college basketball in one decision-filled Sunday.

It's the beauty because the conference is so compelling

It's the curse because the regular season, even one as eventful as this one, only means so much. There is still the Big Ten tournament remaining. Michigan and Michigan State split their regular season meetings. The most meaningful game of the all would be if they faced each other in the conference tournament. It's one of the great oddities that in the first 15 years of the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans and Wolverines have never played each other. It would definitely settle once and for all who deserves the higher NCAA seed and/or spot in Auburn Hills.

And there is no mistake about what matters most: It is going the deepest in the NCAA tournament.

Last year, for example, Michigan and MSU tied for the regular season Big Ten title with Ohio State.

The Spartans won the Big Ten tournament, beating Ohio State, which had ousted Michigan, in the title game.

Yet, who had the best season in the end? It had to be Ohio State, right? While Michigan was knocked out by Ohio in its first game, and the Spartans were routed by Louisville in the Sweet 16, Ohio State reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

Oddly, MSU's chances of getting that Final Four banner might be better served with a Michigan loss rather than victory Sunday.

Big Ten regular season title? Better shot at the Final Four?

It's all good for MSU. Want to root against the Wolverines, do it, Spartans fans.